SEOUL: Solvay has started construction on a highly dispersible silica (HDS) production facility in Gunsan, South Korea.The project is part of the company’s strategy to develop innovative HDS grades, and meet the increasing demand for energy saving tires.
Planned to start operations within two years, the facility will produce more than 80,000t of silica.Solvay silica global business unit (GBU) president An Nuyttens said: “This new production platform will be dedicated to silica innovations for Asia.”The facility will produce more than 80,000t of silica.”
“Together with the Silica research facility, part of Solvay’s new R&I Center at the Ehwa University Campus in Seoul, we are well-placed to speed-up innovations in close cooperation with our regional customers.”
The GBU silica will produce advanced grades of high-performance silica, including Efficium.The latest generation of HDS is said to facilitate higher productivity, and greater flexibility to produce energy saving passenger car and truck tyre compounds.
Solvay said that the new facility near Gunsan city in Jeollabuk-do province will eventually replace part of the current capacity at its silica site in Incheon.The project in South Korea is part of Solvay Silica’s effort to offer innovative solutions and expand its global footprint to serve customers.